Drop-box mechanism for looms



July 29, 1924.

' E. H. RYON DROP BOX MECHANISM FOR LQOMS Filed Aug. 27. 1925 llvmwra[PPA hf Fro/v Arzwimsys Patented July 29, 1924.

EPPA H. RYO'N, OF WALTHAMI, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR T CROMPTON & KNOWLESLO'OM WORKS, OF WORCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORATION OF MASSACHU-D'ROP-BGX' MECHANISM FOR LOOMS.

Application filed August 27, 1923. Serial No. 659,464.

T 0 all whom it may concern Be it known that I, EPPA H. RYoN, a citizenof 'the United. States, residing at \Valtham, in the county of Middlesexand State of Massachusetts, have invented a new and useful Drop-BoxMechanism for Looms, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to looms of the drop box type, and particularlyto improved devices for lifting the drop boxes in such looms.

It is the object of my invention to improve the construction of thebox-lifting mechanism, reducing the cost of manufacture and providing amore satisfactory and desirable arrangement of parts.

With this general object in view, an important feature of my inventionrelates to an improved construction by which overthrow of the boxes maybe prevented. Further features of my invention will be hereinafterdescribed and more particularly pointed out in the appended claims. I

A preferred form of the invention is shown in the drawings, in whichFig. 1 is a front elevation of a portion of a loom including my improveddrop box mechanism Fig. 2 is a similar view but showing the parts in adifferent position;

Fig. 3 is a sectional plan view taken along the line 33 in Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a sectional elevation of certain detail parts, and V Fig. 5 isa. sectional elevation of additional detail parts.

Referring to the drawings, I have shown a portion of a loom side 10. alay 11 supported by a sword 12, and a shaft 13 upon which the lay 12 ismounted and which also supports an end bracket 14:. Drop boxes 15 areslidably mounted at the end of the lay 11 and are provided with alifting rod 16 secured to the bottom of the drop boxes and extendingdownward therefrom.

A. sleeve 17 is slidably mounted on the lower end of the rod 16 and isalso slidable in a bearing 18 on the bracket 14-. A collar 19 limitsdownward movement of the sleeve 17 on the rod 16 and a relatively heavycoil spring 20 is interposed between the upper end of the sleeve 17 andthe lower side of the drop boxes. The spring 20 on the rod 16 isprovided merely as a yielding or giveproperly and would interfere withmovement of the boxes 15.

A box lifting chain 21 is connected by a link 22 to certain actuatingmechanism not shown. The chain 21 passes over a pair of guide pulleys 23and is connected by a rod or link 24 to an arm 25 projecting laterallyfrom the lower end of the sleeve 17. The rod 2 1 is preferably threadedat its lower end into the arm 25 and is-provided with a lock nut 26 topreserve its adjustment.

The parts thus far described are or may be oflthe usual construction andin themselves form no part of my invention which relates specifically tothe provision of improved yielding means for preventing over throw ofthe drop boxes when shifted suddenly from one extreme position to theother. i

For this purpose, I provide a relatively light spring 27 surrounding therod 24 and engaging the arm 25 at its lower end. The upper end of thespring 27 is secured in a collar 28 which is slidable on the rod or link24. A second relatively light spring 30 of larger diameter is mounted ina recess 31 (Fig. 5) of a bracket 32 in which the guide pulleys 23 arepivoted. The lower end of the spring 30 is secured to the outside of thecollar 28 and the upper end engages the upper end of the recess oropening 31. The spring 30 is of such diameter that it permits the chain21 to pass freely therethrough.

The provision of the two springs 27 and 31 connected by the slidingcollar 28 enables me to use a spring of sufficient length to permit thedesired range of movement of the drop boxes and also avoids the use of asingle long spring of the large diameter of the spring 30. A spring ofthis diameter and of the combined length of the two springs would beextremely weak against compression and consequently would not beeffective in use.

In Fig. 1, the boxes 15 are shown in their lowest position, with thesprings 24 and 30 extended, and in Fig. 2, the boxes are raised to theirhighest position and the spring 30 is compressed within the opening 31of the bracket 32.

Having thus described my invention and the advantages thereof, I do notwish to be limited to the details herein disclosed otherwise than as setforth in the claims but what I claim is 2 1. In a loom having aplurality of drop boxes, box lifting mechanism comprising a liftingchain, a rod connected thereto, a yielding connection between said rodand boxes, and a spring device: encircling said rod and the end portionof said chain and acting to prevent overthrow of said boxes.

2. In a loom having a plurality of drop boxes, box lifting mechanismcomprising a lifting chain, a rod connected thereto, a

yielding connection between said rod and boxes, a spring encircling saidrod, a second spring encircling the end portion of said chain, and acollar slidable on said rod and connecting said springs to act as asingle compression. member, to prevent overthrow of said boxes,

3. In a loom having a plurality of drop boxes, box lifting mechanismcomprising a lifting rod depending from said boxes, sleeve slidable onsaid rod, means to limit downward movement or" said sleeve on said rod,a relatively heavy spring encircling said rod and interposed betweensaid sleeve and said boxes, a lifting chain. a second rod connecting aprojecting portion of said sleeve to said chain, a relatively lightspring encircling said second rod and an end portion of said chain, anda fixed abutment for the upper end of said spring, the lower end thereofengaging said projecting portion of said sleeve to prevent overthrow ofsaid boxes.

4. In a loom having a plurality of drop boxes, box lifting mechanismcomprising a lifting rod depending from said boxes, a sleeve slidable onsaid rod, means to limit downward movement of said sleeve on said rod, arelatively heavy spring encircling said rod and interposed between 'saidsleeve and said boxes, a lifting chain, a second rod connecting aprojecting portion of said sleeve to said chain, a relatively lightspring encircling said second rod and engaging said portion of saidsleeve, a second spring encircling anend portion of said chain, and acollar slidable on said second rod and connecting said springs, saidsprings acting together to yieldingly force said rod and chain in adownward direction.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto ai'lixed my signature.

EPPA H. RYON

